Monday, May 24, 2010

Week 20 is the first week I have not met the training goals. I was on the road for work and unable to find a hotel with workout equipment AND that would allow me to have the Callie Dog with me. Also, I wasn't feeling well most of the week, even the mileage during the week was split into smaller walks rather than the longer recommended walks. Do not fear, I haven't lost motivation - sometimes you have to listen to your body and do the best you can at that time. I will likely do extra cross-training this week to make up for some of what I did not do last week.

WEEK 20 Training:

Monday, 5/24 - Rest

Tuesday, 5/25 - 3 Mile Easy Walk

Wednesday, 5/26 - 15 Minutes Moderate Cross-Training

Thursday, 5/27 - 5 Mile Moderate Walk

Friday, 5/28 - 30 Minutes Easy Cross-Training

Saturday, 5/29 - 6 Mile Easy Walk

Sunday 5/30 - 4 Mile Easy Walk

I will be doing the airport experience this coming Saturday, so I am going to try and get as much of my 6 miles for 5/29 while waiting in the airports.

TRAINING IN THE HEAT

As the temperatures warm up (rather quickly here in Iowa), training in warm/hot weather requires 3-day walkers to remember the popular mantra "DRINK, PEE, NO IV"! It is recommended you drink at least 8 ounces of water and 8 ounces of gatorade every hour. For most of us, that equates to about 16 ounces of liquid every 3 miles or so. Here are some tips for you:

1) Invest in a camel pak - most hold 2 liters of liquid (approximately 32 ounces), plus you can pack it with ice so your beverage stays nice and cool.

2) Map your routes where you have a place to refill on liquid and use the restroom every 3-4 miles. Worse come to worse, do three mile loops to your residence.

3) If your 4-legged friend walks with you during training, make sure you carry extra water for your pooch... dehydration can occur just as easily in your pet.

4) Don't like the heat? Worse come to worse, do your training walks at the local mall / Wal-Mart / grocery store. I am not a fan of this option... and remember, the weather may not be ideal during your 3-day event so training in all types of weather helps you mentally prepare for the worst nature has to offer.

5) Walk early in the morning or later in the evening if your schedule allows... 10 degrees difference in temperature when you are walking even 3 miles can seem like a world of difference.

6) Remember, especially on hot days, do not hop in the shower as soon as you get home - your body temperature needs time to equalize, plus you probably need some nutrients... why not eat a snack and cool off for a bit first?

7) Split your daily mileage into more tolerable "chunks", with the longest chunks being in the cooler times of day. Again, I recommend doing at least a good mile or two in the hottest part of the day so your body is acclimated to the extremes.

FUNDRAISING

Fundraising is going well. Team Bras of Glory is ALMOST at the 50% mark. Walker Angel jumped up $100 due to a donation from her boss! I received a $10 donation from my Texas friend, Terri, whose sister is battling breast cancer. Team member Lindsey held her Stems and Legs Winemakers event this past Saturday and I anxiously await the totals! All and all, I think we're moving along nicely.

Michelle's latest fundraiser: I got this idea from another 3-day'ers blog, so here it is... I am at 65% of my required $2300 - if I reach 100% by JUNE 1, I will dye my hair fluorescent pink for the event in October. To donate, click here. I have NEVER dyed my hair a non-natural color... so this is huge for me!

The weather was gorgeous this weekend to be outside after a crap-tastic rainy, very busy, very tiring week for me. I struggled to force myself to walk this past Thursday, but after an hour power nap, got out and walked the 4 miles. I was glad that I did or else I would have felt guilty for skipping that 4 miles.

Saturday's walk started at the Des Moines Farmers Market

The Callie Dog and I walked through the grass for a bathroom break (her, not me) while Kara stayed up on the trail.

Sunday's walk was on the Great Western Trail in Des Moines... it's a pretty nice trail which is 18 miles from start to finish - this may be my 18-miler when I get that far in training schedule.

FUNDRAISING

This was a slow fundraising week for me. Team member Kara, however, had sent letters to local businesses in the Iowa City area a few weeks back and it's starting to yield some contributions. Bellaz Salon donated $75 towards her goal this week! The team is almost half-way to its $10,000 team goal!

I'll actually be heading two hours west to work this week. I will likely get lots of miles in this week for work because of it. I like heading to new areas! New places to explore, new places to train, and new people to hit up for donations.

Friday, May 14, 2010

So, I stole this from a friend's facebook note... it is titled "53 Runners Commandments by Joe Kelly" (From Holly) (then through Melissa). Anyhow, substitute "walker" for "runner" and I think about 75% of these are applicable to 3-day walkers. Enjoy!

1. Don’t be a whiner. Nobody likes a whiner, not even other whiners.

2. Walking out the door is often the toughest part of a run.

3. Don’t make running your life. Make it part of your life.

4. During group training runs, don’t let anyone run alone.

5. Keep promises, especially ones made to yourself.

6. When doing group runs, start on time no matter who’s missing.

7. The faster you are the less you should talk about your times.

8. Keep a quarter in your pocket. One day you’ll need to call for a ride.

9. Don’t compare yourself to other runners.

10. All runners are equal, some are just faster than others.

11. Keep in mind that the later in the day it gets, the more likely it is that you won’t run.

12. For a change of pace, get driven out and then run back.

13. If it was easy, everybody would be a runner.

14. When standing in starting lines, remind yourself how fortunate you are to be there.

15. Getting out of shape is much easier than getting into shape.

16. A bad day of running still beats a good day at work.

17. Talk like a runner. “Singlets” are worn on warm days. “Tank tops” are worn to the beach.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Items of Note: My walk yesterday marked my 50th walk since February 23rd, which is when I started my "pre-training".

TRAINING COUNTDOWN: WEEK 21 SCHEDULE

Monday, 5/10 - Rest

Tuesday, 5/11 - 3 Miles Easy Walk

Wednesday, 5/12 - Rest

Thursday, 5/13 - 4 Mile Moderate Walk

Friday, 5/14 - 30 Minutes of Cross-Training

Saturday, 5/15 - 5 Mile Easy Walk

Sunday, 5/16 - 4 Mile Easy Walk

Week 21 Totals: 16 Miles + 30 Minutes of X-Training

The next two weeks are exceptionally busy for me. I would like to continue surpassing my weekly targets as set by the Komen 24-week schedule, but I will be happy to meet them. I will need to follow my own suggestions about training and traveling which I posted about this past Saturday. Check out this post by a fellow 3-Day walker about the importance of training.

FUNDRAISING

This week yielded a $100 donation from someone I barely know! I was wearing my 3-day hat when a guy who works in my building thanked me for participating in the Komen events. We had about a 10 minute conversation, I gave him my 3-day card, and as soon as he got home he donated!

FUNDRAISING TIP OF THE WEEK: Don't be shy about handing out that 3-day card! Donations come from some people you wouldn't expect to donate or you hardly know!

That donation put me at 64% of my fundraising goal!

Personal total to date: $1483.12

Team Tota to datel: $4653.00

Other fundraising efforts included soliciting businesses for donations via e-mail, as well contacting an Italian restaurant near hear about doing a "Dining for Donations" night in the next month or so. I haven't gotten response from any of them yet, but businesses take a bit to respond sometimes. I am hopeful!